Trapping device.



M. M. DURKEE.

TRAPPING DEVICE.

APPucATioN man ris. s. 1915.

LQ Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

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M. IVI. DURKEE.

TRAPPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB: 3A I9I5.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PATENT @FWQE MILAN M. DURKEE, OF LAWTON, OKLAHOMA.

TRAPPING DEVICE.

Application filed February 3, 1915.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILAN M, DURKEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawton, in the county of Comanche and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trapping Devices, of which the following is a specilication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to grappling devices, and particularlyv to grajipling devices in the nature of traps, and adapted to be used for the catching of fish or small animals, but also adapted "to be used. for seizing and holding anything which may be at the bottom otI or floating on water.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a grappling device of a very simple and effective character for the above purpose particularly adapted for catching sh, which shall be very quick in its action and in which the bait is so supported that the animal nibbling atithe bait must actuate the trap.

A further object of. the invention is to provide means whereby the sensitiveness of the trap may be regulated, and still another object is to provide means whereby the jaws of the trap or grappling device may be autoinatically released after being set upon contact with the object with which it is designed to grapple.

Other objects will appear in the course of the 'tiillowing description.

My invention is illustrated in the aecompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalV view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is an underside plan view of the grappling device with the jaws open; Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the jaws closed; Fig. '-l is a detail top plan view of a portion of the trap with the jaws open; Fig, 5 is a section on line 55 of i5 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the pintle in section, and also showingl one of the ratchet wheels and bail arm; Fig. 7 is -a perspective view of the pintle; Fig. S is a longitudinal sectI nal view on the same line as Fig. 1, but showing j my automatic releasing device applied to the trap; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of they upper end of the automatic releasing device; Fig. 1() is a perspective view of one of the hinge leaves and a portion of the corre- Specification of Letters Patent.

rammen Nov. te, isis.

Serial No. 5,938.

arms (i to which the bail 7 is attached, this bail being adapted to be connected to a cord or other flexible connection 8.

Mounted upon the pintle 2 are the hinge leaves 9 and 10. The hinge leaf 9 is formed preferably of sheet metal and so foianed as to provide eyes 11 through which the pintle passes, and the hinge leaf 10 is also so formed as to provide eyes 12 for the same purpose. It will be noticed that these eyes or beads are so arranged that the leaf 9 has one ofits eyes 11 on the outside and that the other leaf 10 has one of its eyes on the outside and that the other two eyes 1l' and 12 are disposed on each side of the squared portion 3 of the pintle. Thus these eyes alternate in such manner that an eye comes at each end of the hinge at the opposite side from the one at the other end and takes the strain of the actuating springs at that end.

Disposed between the ratchet wheels 5 and the hinge leaves are the springs 13 which are coiled around the pintle and at. their outerV ends are bent to each engage with its corresponding ratchet wheel, while at the inner end each spring is extended tangentially outward and engaged with a lug 'l formed upon a corresponding hinge leaf. Of course these springs operate in opposite directions and one spring controls the action of one of the trap jaws while the other spring controls the action of the other trap jaw, rthe hinge leaves are of course opposite each other when the jaws are closed, as

shown most clearly in Fig. 3, and each hinge leaf at its ends is formed with downwardly projecting lugs 15 which abut against each other when the jaws are closed and limit the movement of the jaws toward each other under the action of the springs.

'Mounted upon one of the hinge leaves is a strip of metal 16. This strip is riveted to the hinge leaf and 'i ts forward edge is turned fil flu

downward and underneath the downwardly extending flange lA ol the hinge leaf. rThis strip 1G is upwardly arched at its middle as at l? and upwardly bent at its ends as at i8 to form ears. The middle arched portion li' ont the strip is cut away at 19 and also at 117.0, this leaving oppositely disposed ears 2l between which 'the latch is pivoted as at This provides a rod or linger which is straight for a portion ot its length as at 2i and then curved to its pivotal point, the under tace of the latch at the base of the portion 24 being formed with a shoulder or notch for engagement with a trigger, as will he later described.

Rivet-.ed to the opposite hinge is a strip 26, the ends of which are upwardly turned s at 9/.7 and the middle of which is arched as at 2S and longitudinally Aextended as at 529. AVlhe end of this U-shaped extension is eut away as at and formed with the upwardly extending guide lugs 8l. APivoted within this extension 29 is a trigger c@ne endfof this trigger is screw threaded as at 33, 'and at the base oit this screw threaded portion the trigger is pivoted to the ijvalls oi' the U-.sliaped extension 2). Mounted`- upon this screw threaded portieri of 'the trigger is# an ustable nut 34, while the opposite end of the triggerlwhich entends out through the base oi' the lil-shaped portion perforated for the attachment of a small 'flexible connection 35 which extends around the squared portion 3 and through unopening Sirl termed in the hinge leaf l0 andso to the hait hol For the purpose of supporting bait between the j provide a sleeve or collar which surrounds the squared portion 3 oi' the pintle 2, this preferably being formed by a strip of metal which is bent around the squared upon the squared portion by means of ay lock 36. Ti e strip then extends outward and is o laterally curved so as to provide a semi-tubu guide member and at its extremity is to ned with a, sleeve 37. Disposed in this sleeve is a rod 38 the extremity of which is formed with aneye 39, the inner end of the rod being attached to the flexible cord or connection S5. rihus it will be seen that any pull upon the rod 38 'will pull upon the cord and this in turn will pull. upon the rigger 32, which, as will be hereafter dcerihed, will release the latch and permit he jaws to close under the action ot the spring. The hait is intended to be tied or otl e Wise attached to the eye 39. it will be seen that this nut constitutes means whereby the leverage exerted by the trigger 32 may e regulated because oft the fact that this ut is movable toward or from the pivotal nte: o the trigger lever. The point where orc is applied, that is, Where the pull on applied to the trigger,

portion, this strip being clamped4 Licence and the pivot ot the lever, that is, the trig ger remains always relatively fixed, and this makes it possible to pass the hait line through a very small opening in the hinge and still have an adjustment that is positive and of such range that the minimum pull can easily be made by a lish three inches long and a hook that would easily hold a ten pound fish. lf the nut or member 34 is adjustedfrom or toward the pivotal center of the trigger 32 the leve-rage exerted by the trigger 32 upon the latch is changed, and thus by running the nut 34 outward heavy bait can loe suspended from the bait holder without danger et' tripping the latch. By

adjusting the nut inward upon the trigger,`

that is, nearer to the tulcrum point thereof, the leverage is increased, and thus the trap may be adjusted to catch smaller sh than where the nut is disposed at the outer end of trigger. l have 'found in practice that this adjustment of the t pull upon the trigger is very important, particularly where it is desired that small fish shall not be able to actuate the trap.

The jaws LlOand il may be formed in any 'suitable manner and are attached .respectively lto the vears-'i8 and the ears 27, and thus are carried by the hinge plates. `lreferably each jaw compiises a strip l2 which is bent 'lat its middle as at i3, the two legs being riveted at their ends to the corresponding ears 1S and 27. Also riveted to these ears is a circular strip il which is riveted at its middle to the end of the strip 42.' Riveted to the outer faces of the two legs on each -strip l2 are the arcuate strips 45. All these strips 42, 44 and 45 are formed with down-y wardly projecting prongs or teeth, and preferably each of the strips 42 isl also `formed adjacent the point of connection of the strips l5 with the inwardly extending lugs 46 which are so arranged as to abut against each other when the jaws are closed and to form bumpers or stops limiting the inward movement of the jaws towardA each other. inasmuch as these bumpers or stops 46' are formed on the strip of sheet metal- 49 these lugs, stops, or bumpers are concavely curved reversely to each other,- as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

`When this device is to be used as a trap, that is, used for the purpose oi" seizing small animals, and particularly fish, the jaws of the trap are turned into horizontal position,

as illustrated in Fig. 1, and the latch 22 isturned back over the face of the vU-shaped hou-sing or extension and disposed loetween the guide lugs 3l with the notch 25 engaged by the edge of the extension 28. t

now the bait be pulled, the strain on the Flexible connection 85 Will pull downward' on the outer endet the trigger 32 causing the nut carrying end to move upward slightly, which will disengage the latch 'the bait out under the end of the pintleand thus spring the hook or grapple by a side pull and escape. This bait support or controller causes the holding device to tilt on the main line which is attached to the bail, thus keeping the bait always well inside the reach of the jaws and preventing any lateral movement of the bait out 0f the area de- A scribed by the jaws.

lWhen my device is intended to be used for the purpose of grappling an object in the water, means must be provided for au tomatically tripping the latch upon contact with the object. To this end I provide the auxiliary tripping device shown in Fig. 8. This comprises a rod or wire 47 which is 'formed with an eye 478 at one end and at .the other end is angularly bent as at 49 and then bent at right angles to the body of the wire 47. Pivoted to the eye 48 is a 'plate 50, the extremity of which is formed with a laterally extending finger 5l having at its end a lug 52. 'When it is desired to use this automatic releasing device the wire is passed downward through the opening 35a in the hinge plate thi ough which the flexible connection 35 passes, and with the jaws horizontal and the latch in engagement with the detent 34 the plate 50 is disposed parallel to and against one side of the latch 22 with the linger 51 extending under the latch, that is, between the latch and the extension Q8. New if vthe grappling device he lowered and so moved to bring` the lower end of the wire i7 in contact with the object. this tripping device will lac/raised by contact with the object and this will pry'np the latch 22 from its engagement with the de tent, causing the snapping or tripping ol' the jaws. Ol' course it is to he understood that when in use in this manner the line R supporting the grappling device will be attached to a pole or rod. the. line passing ont through the middle ot the -rod. Thus hy rotating the pole in the hands the grappling device may caused to rotate horizontally either in the air or the water until the jaws stand across the object to be seized. 'By the pro-vision ot the ratchet members l on the ends oi' the pintle l provide means whereby the springs may be initially tensioned to any desired extent. ln assembling the structure the hinge leaves are set together properly and then the pintle is run through the hinge leaves and one spring is slipped on. The corresponding ratchet wheel is then placed upon the pintle. The short hook on the outer end of the spring is then engaged in a notch of the ratchet wheel. T he pintle is then turned until the inner end of the spring touches and lies upon the projecting upturned end 0i' the hinge leaf on that side. The hinge leaves being closed together the other spring is then slipped on, after which the corresponding ratchet wheel is placed upon the pintle and the hook of the spring is put on in a notch of the ratchet wheel so that the inner end of the spring last put on will not bear upon the projecting end of the hinge leaf but stand out from it a. quarter of a turn. This end of the .spring is then grasped by pliers and pulled backward around the pintle three-quarters oi a turn until it vpasses the upturned projecting end lll of the hinge leaf. The spring is then enga ged with the hinge leaf and snapped into place. Since the two springs pull against each other the three-quarter turn given to the second spring is divided between them and gives each spring such a tension as would result from three-eights of a turn on each one. New it is plain that iii before putting the second spring in place the outer hook ot the spring had been engaged in a different notch' oi the ratchet wheel.y both of the springs would have a different tension. if it is desired to change the tension of the springs after the parts are fully assembled. it is only necessary to grip the hooked end ot one or the other of the springs in pliers and carry it around the corresponding ratchet wheel so as to increase the tension oit' the spring or decrease it and then engage it with one of the teeth 'ot the'ratchet wheel.

YWhile have described the preferable, details of my construction l wish it to be undcrstood that many modifications might be made therein without departing from. the spirit of my invention, but preferably, however, the device is made as heretofore de* scribed because as so made the device is sim` ple.y may be cheaply manufactured, and is relatively light and portable.

'Vhile l Yhave illustratedI straight teeth, l ,wish it understood that the'tect-h might be slightly curved or bent so to con verge inward toward the eye in the top oli the bail. Thus there will be a tendency to draw the, animal or article seized into the device and the hold will be more secure than it the teeth were perfectly straight. .ln the drawings certain ot the teeth are shown as curved. and it will be understood that some or all of the teeth may be curved it desired.

Having described my invention` what l" claim is: f

l. An automatic grappling device coniprising a pintle, oppositely disposed jaws hinged to the pintle, a pair ot springs on the pintle engaging each with one of the jaws, a latch operatively mounted on one jaw, a trigger operatively mounted on the other jaw and operating the latch, means for adjusting the pull ot' the trigger, and a bait holder operatively connected to the trigger.

2. A. grappling device comprising a pintle, oppositely disposed jaws hinged to the pintle, a pair of spi'ings on the pintle and engaging each with a jaw, a latch operatively mounted on one jaw, a trigger opera'- tively mounted on the other jaw, an adjustable member mounted upon the trigger and engaging with the latch, and a bait holder operatively connected to the trigger.

A grappling device comprising a pin- .tle, oppositely disposed jaws hingedly mounted on the pintle, a pair of springs on the pintle engaging each with a jaw and urging the jaws to a closed position, a latch operatively mounted on one jaw and adapted when the jaws are opened to engage the opposite jaw and hold the jaw in position, a trigger operatively mounted' on the other jaw, said trigger being screw-threaded at its end, an internally threaded member mounted upon' the threaded portion of the trigger and being movable toward or from the pivotal center of the trigger, and a bait holder operatively connected to the opposite end ot the trigger.

e. ln a trap ofthe character described, -a piiitle, a pair ot hinge leaves mounted upon said pintle, springs each connected with one of said hinge leaves and urging the hinge leaves lin parallel relation, a jaw mounted upon each hinge leaf, a latch pivotally mounted upon one of said hinge leaves and movable over upon and into engagement with the opposite jaw when the jaws are in horizontal 4position, said latch havingl a notch to engage said opposite jaw, a trigger pivotally mounted upon said last named jaw, a bait holder depending from said pintle. and an operative connection from said bait holder to said pivoted trigger whereby to trip the trigger and disengage the detent from the latch. l Y

5. In a trap of the character described, oppositely disposed spring actuated jaws ini'fluding strips ot sheet metal, each of said .strips being 'formed on its edge with prongs,

one ot said strips on one jaw being bent to provide transversely curved stops, the opposite jaw being 'formed with corresponding stops but reversely curved to the stops on the first-named jaw.

(i. ln a 4grappling device ot the character described, a pintle, hinge leaves mounted upon 'the piutle and carrying jaws, oppositely coiled springs mounted upon said pintle. on each side of the hinge leaves, each spring being connected at its innerend to 'one ot' said hinge leaves, and ratchet wheels mounted upon the ends of the pintle with which the ends of the springs respectively engage.

7. In a grappling device, a pair of spring actuated jaws, a latch adapted to hold the jaws open, a pivoted trigger, abait support operatively connected thereto, and' means carried by the trigger and engageable with the latch to trip it, said means being adjustable toward or from the pivotal axis' of the trigger.

8. In a grappling device, a pair of spring actuated jaws, a pivoted latch adapted to hold the jaws open, a pivotedtrigger, a bait support operatively connected thereto, and means carried by the trigger, an engageable with the latch kto trip it', said means being adjustable toward or from the pivotal j yanis of the latch. j

device, a pair of spring V engaging the latch and adjustable to change the leverage of the trigger.

1l. In a grappling device, a pair of spring actuated jaws, a latch adapted to holdthe jaws open, a trigger adapted to release thev latch, a bait supporting means operativelyr connected to the trigger, and means for changing theleverage exerted by the trigger upon the latch.

12. 1n a grappling device of the character described, the combination with va pair of spring actuated jaws, a latch mounted upon one jaw and operatively engaging the other jaw to hold the jaws in open position, and means for normally releasing the latch, of auxiliary means for releasing the latch comprising a member removably disposed upon the upper faces of the jaws when the jaws are opened-and engaging between the latch and the adjacent jaw, and an actuating rod extending downward from said member and between the jaws and having a terminal end disposed below the jaws when the latter are in open position.

13. In a grappling device of the character described, a pair of spring actuated jaws, a common pintle therefor, a latch, a trigger, a guide depending from and mounted upon the =pintle, a member reciprocatingly mounted upon the guide and flexibly connected to the trigger, and flexible means 4for supporting bait upon said member.

1+. In a grappling device ot' the character described the combination with a pair otA v spring actuated jaws, a latch adapted to hold the jaws in open position, and means 1n testimony whereof I hereunto affix my for normally releasing the latch, of auxsignature in the presence of twowitnesses. iliixry means for releasing the la-teh detach MILAN M. DURKEE ably supported in a position depending be- Witnesses:

.5I/low. said jaws When the latter are in open D. M. ALLEN, positie JACOB GOODING. 

